I'm still a bit jet-lagged from our trip to Australia and New Zealand. It was a very special 'pastoral journey' as the main reason we travelled was to conduct the wedding of two New Zealand
musicians, Jonny and Sophie, whom we had met as students in Bern.

Do you remember getting School reports about your progress? I heard from dismayed parents whose child - bright, intelligent,creative-had been described by the teacher as 'average'. Not 'good' at
anything!

Do you wake up in the morning with a list of 'things to do' buzzing in your head? Aware of all the pressures of daily living? Are you affected (perhaps despondent) by all the bad news and
tensions reported by the media? Do you feel burdened? Unable to cope? [. . .]

What a generous God we have! He has poured (lavished) His love on us because we are His children. Born into His family by His grace - not because we can earn His favour, or deserve His mercy -
but because He made us and loves us with an unstoppable (faithful) love. Wow! [. . .]

This week I shared at the Board meeting the reminder God had given me that he is concerned not primarily with structures and principles but with people. I read these lovely
verses from Ephesians: Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in […]

Jesus’ words recorded in John’s gospel Ch.14: verse 27 are these: ‘I am leaving you with a gift – peace of heart and mind. And the peace I give you
is a gift that the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.’

He was speaking to his disciples before the events of his crucifixion.[…]

I’ve had a strange weekend, being unwell and asleep in bed much of Saturday and again for three hours on Sunday afternoon. I woke up thinking how
much stronger I felt for having rest. Rest is so important! In resting we find strength. So often we are pressured by so much to do that we accept
second best – we struggle on in our limited strength and understanding[…]